Carlo Acutis didn’t live a long life — he died at just 15 — but in that short time he showed something extraordinary: that it’s possible to live fully, joyfully, and close to God, even in the middle of ordinary teenage life. School, sports, video games, friends... Carlo had them all, and far from being a distraction to his faith, he was able to bring them all to God. For him, faith wasn’t a background track; it was the melody that shaped everything else.

The secret, he believed, was staying close to Jesus. That friendship gave meaning to his choices and filled his days with purpose. The Eucharist was his anchor, the toll-free “highway to Heaven.” Love for God and for others shaped the way he lived, because in the end, love is what makes us truly beautiful.

Carlo also had a bold challenge for us: don’t settle for being a copy of someone else. We were all created as originals, and holiness is about becoming the best version of ourselves. And when life felt uphill, he leaned on prayer, especially the Rosary, a simple yet powerful ladder to Heaven.

These ideas weren’t just words to Carlo: they were his roadmap, his way of aiming high without losing his joy. What if they could become yours too?